Special prosecutor appointed in TV reporter's DUI case

A top official in the Kane County state’s attorney’s office will serve as prosecutor in the DuPage County drunken driving case of Chicago TV reporter Dave Savini.

DuPage County Chief Judge John Elsner approved a request to appoint a special prosecutor to handle the case on Wednesday.

The special prosecutor was sought by the DuPage state’s attorney office because of a potential conflict of interest. One of the supervising attorneys in the prosecutor’s office is related to Savini, and may be a potential witness in the case, according to court documents.

In a motion filed this week, DuPage State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said he had asked the office of neighboring Kane State’s Attorney Joe McMahon to provide assistance. On Wednesday, McMahon said First Assistant State’s Attorney Jody Gleason has been selected as the special prosecutor.

Savini, an investigative reporter with CBS 2 Chicago, is due in court Jan. 21 on misdemeanor charges of DUI, battery, child endangerment and leaving the scene of an accident. According to police, Savini, 47, shoved another motorist after the men were involved in a minor accident in the parking lot of a Taco Bell in Naperville early on Jan. 4.

Savini, who had two teenage passengers, then allegedly drove off before being stopped by police about three miles away. According to reports, he had a blood-alcohol level of .13.